https://www.scmp.com/rss/500428/feed Before joining the Post in Washington, Mark worked in China, India and Japan for the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times and was a Knight-Wallace journalism fellow. He’s covered economic, social and political issues throughout Asia and conflicts in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, including weeks spent camping under Saddam Hussein’s bridges. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Americans and the rest of the world woke up on Wednesday to a seismic shift in the US political landscape as Democrats trounced Republicans, US President Donald Trump’s weapons of fear and intimidation suddenly appeared dull and possibly, just possibly, the US could start repairing its badly battered global image. While the final electoral count could take days, the trend was crystal clear. A blue tsunami had washed over the noisy, powerful land, with Democrats set to hold 55 or 56 Senate seats... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373224/us-voters-unleash-blue-wave-handing-congress-democrats-and-rebuking-trump https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3373224/us-voters-unleash-blue-wave-handing-congress-democrats-and-rebuking-trump Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:33:25 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Tuesday’s US midterm election is both hugely consequential and not so consequential even as the world waits to see the American voters’ verdict on Donald Trump’s presidency – and the impact that verdict will have on his temperament, plans and possible petulant response, analysts and former government officials said. On the one hand, an expected strong showing by opposition Democrats could bring more Congressional scrutiny over some of the most unconventional, maximalist and disruptive policies... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3372795/will-losing-us-midterms-see-trump-double-down-or-signal-beginning-end https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3372795/will-losing-us-midterms-see-trump-double-down-or-signal-beginning-end Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:25 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The film Everest: The Other Side, a collaborative US-China project that opened on Friday in 515 US cinemas and that will premiere at over 700 IMAX theatres in China on November 6, starts with a majestic shot of the world’s tallest mountain. Then the music builds and more challenging weather rolls in, foreshadowing what is at stake. The film invokes a well-trod narrative for fans of the mountaineering genre: a mix of the grit and sacrifice driving world-class climbers, along with no small amount... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/society-culture/article/3372803/new-everest-film-hopes-nudge-us-china-relations-higher-altitude https://www.scmp.com/news/us/society-culture/article/3372803/new-everest-film-hopes-nudge-us-china-relations-higher-altitude Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:02:46 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier On a recent warm Thursday evening, supporters drift into San Francisco’s United Irish Cultural Centre to hear Connie Chan, who is running for California’s 11th congressional district. Born in Hong Kong, Chan attended elementary school in Taiwan before immigrating to the United States at 13. Now a San Francisco supervisor, she hopes to succeed long-time Democratic powerhouse Nancy Pelosi, who announced her retirement and endorsed her. The 48-year-old politician would be the first Asian-American... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3372796/can-connie-chan-become-san-franciscos-first-asian-american-congress https://www.scmp.com/news/us/us-elections/article/3372796/can-connie-chan-become-san-franciscos-first-asian-american-congress Fri, 30 Oct 2026 19:57:48 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Huawei Technologies started presenting its case on Wednesday, arguing that as a cutting-edge global tech leader it had no interest in stealing trade secrets, in a high-stakes criminal trial involving dozens of witnesses, legions of lawyers and untold millions of US dollars in legal fees. The Shenzhen-based company has pleaded not guilty to 14 criminal counts in New York’s Eastern District Court, including racketeering conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud and trade secret theft spanning more than... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3372491/huawei-opens-defence-us-criminal-trial-touting-its-record-innovation https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3372491/huawei-opens-defence-us-criminal-trial-touting-its-record-innovation Wed, 28 Oct 2026 20:26:16 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The Asia Society announced on Thursday that it had marked out territory on the Washington policy landscape with the purchase of a US$17.5 million building that will give it a permanent spot alongside other US capital think tanks dating back more than a century, striving for influence. The 70-year-old institution, founded by the grandson of oil mogul John D. Rockefeller, has focused more on public policy in recent years, in addition to its traditional focus on arts, culture and education, under... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371837/asia-society-announces-new-permanent-home-historic-washington-building https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371837/asia-society-announces-new-permanent-home-historic-washington-building Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:05:58 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Asian-Americans are laser-focused on the economy and healthcare costs and increasingly disenchanted with US President Donald Trump and his Republican Party leading into the highly consequential November 3 midterm elections, according to a survey released on Monday. While the general trend among Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) mirrors the broader US electorate, the minority community’s views are frequently more pronounced, seen in part because they have been the object of more raids,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3371430/asian-americans-trust-trump-fading-economic-woes-increase-survey-finds https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3371430/asian-americans-trust-trump-fading-economic-woes-increase-survey-finds Mon, 19 Oct 2026 21:26:43 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Mainland Chinese prefer coercion over military force to settle the “reunification question” with Taiwan, and their opinion of the US remains low, although they favour engaging with Washington on trade and security. These are the results from the latest survey of mainland citizens, conducted between April 16 and June 26. This straddled the first summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing but came before the second one in Washington last month. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369842/mainland-chinese-favour-diplomacy-achieve-taiwan-reunification-caveats-survey https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3369842/mainland-chinese-favour-diplomacy-achieve-taiwan-reunification-caveats-survey Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:14:15 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Christie’s auctioneer Rupert Banner leans forward with practised showmanship as bidding stalls on a rare Yongzheng bowl near New York’s iconic Rockefeller Centre. He pauses as if willing offers from thin air, scanning dozens of in-person buyers and phone banks connecting with China, London, Texas. It will be a bad look if the frenzy abates for this delicate peach-decorated bowl highlighted on Christie’s glossy Chinese sale catalogue and online advertising. But bidding soon resumes with a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3369654/chinese-art-takes-long-march-home-us-museums https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3369654/chinese-art-takes-long-march-home-us-museums Sat, 03 Oct 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The US and China need to improve communication, work together more closely and more fully embrace technology to stem risks associated with artificial intelligence, the founder of Nvidia said on Monday. “We should recognise that we’re competitors, and competitors are still able to collaborate,” said Jensen Huang, head of the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitalisation of about US$5.5 trillion. “This is such an important and consequential technology. It has the incredible... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369150/important-and-consequential-nvidias-jensen-huang-us-china-ai-race-risk-management https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3369150/important-and-consequential-nvidias-jensen-huang-us-china-ai-race-risk-management Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:20:17 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Han Zheng, China’s vice-president, called on “major countries” to respect the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern nations and bring about a two-state solution for the “Palestinian question” on Saturday at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in an implicit dig at the US and Israel. This came as some analysts questioned why Chinese President Xi Jinping opted not to address the global body given his three-day summit in Washington with US President Donald Trump this week – despite the short... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368923/why-xi-jinping-skipped-un-after-his-trump-summit https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368923/why-xi-jinping-skipped-un-after-his-trump-summit Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:04:55 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier During their three-day summit that ended on Friday, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping worked overtime to underscore their increasingly close relationship even as the meeting produced few concrete deliverables. But the fact that the two economic and military giants are talking – and pledging to talk some more – suggests some period of relative stability ahead, certainly relative to last year’s all-out trade war, chest-thumping and market turmoil, said analysts, companies... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368875/xi-trump-atmospherics-welcomed-mask-structural-rifts-analysts https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368875/xi-trump-atmospherics-welcomed-mask-structural-rifts-analysts Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:02:27 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Friday that he would meet his American counterpart Donald Trump again at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November and at the G20 summit in Miami in December. This set a record, as no Chinese president before had travelled to the US twice in a year. Trump also said he invited to the G20 Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to show up in Shenzhen as well. The announcement capped the final day of Xi’s whirlwind state... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368709/beyond-rose-garden-and-military-review-trump-and-xi-get-down-business https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368709/beyond-rose-garden-and-military-review-trump-and-xi-get-down-business Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:32:56 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Chinese President Xi Jinping landed at Joint Base Andrews late Wednesday afternoon after a 15-hour flight where he was met on the tarmac by US President Donald Trump in an unusual move for a top American leader as the two sides extended a trade truce. The closely watched visit – Xi’s first summit in the United States in 11 years – comes as the two nations grapple with a host of thorny issues beneath the flowery language and statements of friendship, including artificial intelligence, critical... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368568/xi-lands-us-high-stakes-summit-trump-amid-deep-tensions https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368568/xi-lands-us-high-stakes-summit-trump-amid-deep-tensions Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:46:57 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump has been very eager to show off to Chinese leader Xi Jinping his new US$5 million White House helipad, his latest bid to stamp his image on Washington. While Xi might act impressed and compliment the US president on his latest building project – part of Trump’s bid to match Xi’s splendour-filled hosting four months ago in Beijing and show the Chinese that Americans can build infrastructure too – do not count on Xi actually trying it out with a chopper ride this week... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368565/donald-trump-built-us5-million-white-house-helipad-dont-expect-xi-jinping-use-it https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368565/donald-trump-built-us5-million-white-house-helipad-dont-expect-xi-jinping-use-it Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:07:15 +0000 Mark Magnier,Igor Patrick Mark Magnier,Igor Patrick US President Donald Trump addressed the global community on Tuesday morning with a speech that sought to justify his war with Iran, touted how he has “made peace” and argued that his “make America great again” policies benefit the world. His speech before the UN General Assembly came as the world grapples with years of conflict in Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, Sudan, Yemen and Lebanon, with no relief in sight. “I can report to you with pride that America is back, and our country is stronger today than... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3368434/trump-defends-iran-war-touts-america-back-agenda-un-speech https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3368434/trump-defends-iran-war-touts-america-back-agenda-un-speech Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:06:37 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier On the eve of this week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Americans feel better about China, according to a poll released on Monday. They see Beijing as less of a threat, are less supportive of Taiwan and are more likely to favour engagement over containment than last year or in 2024, when views hit an all-time low. As with almost everything in the US these days, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs survey revealed a partisan divide. And while the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368174/survey-finds-us-public-opinion-shifting-favour-engagement-china https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3368174/survey-finds-us-public-opinion-shifting-favour-engagement-china Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:00:05 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the first part of a series, Mark Magnier looks at expectations in the US for the summit. Chinese planners have been frustrated for months at the slow speed of decision-making and limited engagement by a distracted US administration as the days tick down to next week’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368018/why-china-playing-it-cool-amid-trumps-disruption-and-churn https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368018/why-china-playing-it-cool-amid-trumps-disruption-and-churn Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:00:13 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The criminal trial of Huawei Technologies on racketeering charges shifted this week into a slower, more laborious pace in what is expected to be a weeks-long trial as the US Government sought to establish on Wednesday that Huawei was intent on learning about a proprietary robot developed by US telecommunications carrier T-Mobile. Matthew Skurnik, assistant US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, spent hours running FBI Special Agent James Diclemis through a series of emails that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367779/huawei-accused-stealing-robot-tech-get-hands-t-mobiles-trade-secrets https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367779/huawei-accused-stealing-robot-tech-get-hands-t-mobiles-trade-secrets Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:03:23 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,Orange Wang,Mark Magnier,Nayan Seth Khushboo Razdan,Orange Wang,Mark Magnier,Nayan Seth Chinese President Xi Jinping told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday that China and India, as the world’s most populous nations and key members of the Global South, bore “significant responsibilities” in an international landscape “fraught with turbulence and change”. Xi said that although the countries had different national circumstances, “there is ample scope for us to learn from each other’s strengths, offer mutual support, achieve shared success and pursue common... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367314/xi-tells-modi-there-ample-scope-learn-each-others-strengths https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367314/xi-tells-modi-there-ample-scope-learn-each-others-strengths Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:02:31 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A survey of potential Chinese-American voters suggests a significant gender gap in party affiliation as well as a high level of willingness to vote across party lines, according to results released on Thursday. The data – from the Committee of 100 (C100), a civic group of prominent Chinese-Americans, and a University of Chicago polling firm – challenges the common perception that these citizens form a reliable voting bloc for the Democratic Party. Recently naturalised immigrants were more likely... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367126/chinese-american-electorate-proves-more-fluid-expected-c100-survey-finds https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367126/chinese-american-electorate-proves-more-fluid-expected-c100-survey-finds Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:21:05 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier With the well-telegraphed arrival of Canadian retaliatory tariffs on US products on Tuesday, importers, exporters and trade officials waited to see which side would blink first with billions of dollars at risk in one of the world’s largest trading relationships. At midnight, Canadian tariffs of up to 50 per cent took effect on C$27.6 billion (US$19.9 billion) worth of steel, aluminium, apparel, farm equipment and other American goods, escalating an economic stand-off that saw negotiations break... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366693/canada-set-hit-back-trump-tariffs-risking-wider-trade-war https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3366693/canada-set-hit-back-trump-tariffs-risking-wider-trade-war Mon, 07 Sep 2026 20:08:51 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it hit three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, including one off the coast of Kharg Island adjoining Iran’s major oil export hub. CENTCOM said the strikes were conducted after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles at a pair of US Navy ships. “Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3366498/us-disables-or-destroys-3-iran-oil-tankers-after-warships-targeted https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3366498/us-disables-or-destroys-3-iran-oil-tankers-after-warships-targeted Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:59:57 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The Chinese-American community expressed anger and concern on Thursday over the death of a Chinese national in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on US territory. Wei Lianyong, 51, reportedly died in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) on August 23, although the scandal-plagued agency did not disclose the death until this week. “Asian-Americans, Chinese-Americans, should be very concerned about this and very energised to stop what is essentially an attack on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366287/chinese-american-community-alarmed-after-chinese-national-dies-ice-custody https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366287/chinese-american-community-alarmed-after-chinese-national-dies-ice-custody Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:42:30 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that the US held a significant lead over China in artificial intelligence, touted what he termed unprecedented levels of inbound US investment and said he was thrilled about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington later this month. The president’s bravado comes as inflation and oil prices rise, his war of choice with Iran drags on and his polling numbers hit new lows ahead of the US midterm elections in November. “AI is going up, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366162/trump-calls-xis-washington-visit-exciting-claims-us-leads-china-ai-race https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366162/trump-calls-xis-washington-visit-exciting-claims-us-leads-china-ai-race Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:13:30 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A senior Russian aide suggested on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold a trilateral meeting at the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit. Leaders of the 21-member grouping are scheduled to meet in Shenzhen, the Chinese economic powerhouse in southern China, on November 18 and 19, setting up the possibility of Xi and Trump meeting four times this year. Asked on Russian state television about ⁠the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366039/xi-trump-and-putin-may-hold-trilateral-meeting-next-apec-forum-kremlin-says https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366039/xi-trump-and-putin-may-hold-trilateral-meeting-next-apec-forum-kremlin-says Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:53:01 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The US military launched new air strikes on Iran on Tuesday, marking the latest escalation in a six-month war that has seen President Donald Trump alternate between threats, economic sanctions and force. US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on social media that the attacks were in response to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) recent attempted attacks on commercial ships in the strategic Strait of ‌Hormuz and against American service ‌members deployed ‌to the ‌region. “The strikes... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3366032/us-military-carries-out-new-strikes-iranian-targets-hostilities-flare https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3366032/us-military-carries-out-new-strikes-iranian-targets-hostilities-flare Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:15:55 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The latest trade war between the United States and Canada marks a turning point with key lessons for China and other major US trading partners as well as risks, say analysts and former trade officials, as US President Donald Trump continues to put his blunt stamp on global institutions. The breakdown in ties between Washington and Ottawa, one of the largest trade relationships in the world, opens one more front in the president’s disruptive path that could fuel a backlash and further distrust to... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3365998/china-global-trading-partners-watch-closely-trump-takes-canada https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3365998/china-global-trading-partners-watch-closely-trump-takes-canada Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The Justice Department and the FBI said on Wednesday that they seized two Chinese state-sponsored online platforms that targeted US critical infrastructure and other critical networks, including Nasa, the Federal Reserve and the US Senate. According to court documents, the seizures involved a group known as “QTFY”, operated by China-based Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Co, which created and ran the QScan and QTRouter sites. “State-sponsored malicious hackers preying on America’s critical... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3365376/us-seizes-chinese-hacking-platforms-targeting-nasa-fed-and-senate https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3365376/us-seizes-chinese-hacking-platforms-targeting-nasa-fed-and-senate Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:58:46 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The US State Department said on Thursday that it had determined after a detailed investigation that Min Zin, an American political analyst of Chinese descent detained by Beijing last month, was being improperly held. That formal designation shifts the case from a State Department consular issue to one handled by its presidential office dealing with hostage affairs. Thursday’s terse statement, which said the decision was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adds another irritant to the fraught... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3364739/us-designates-academic-min-zin-wrongfully-detained-china https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3364739/us-designates-academic-min-zin-wrongfully-detained-china Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:07:08 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A Chinese national, described by the US Justice Department as a “prolific” money launderer, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday and ordered to pay US$25 million for his role in a Chinese money laundering outfit with ties to Mexican drug gangs. The agency said Jianfei Lu, aged 31, was involved in laundering more than US$92 million in illicit funds in a two-year period, collecting the money from US-based drug traffickers and depositing it into shell company bank accounts using both real... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364500/chinese-national-jianfei-lu-sentenced-15-years-us92m-drug-money-scheme https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364500/chinese-national-jianfei-lu-sentenced-15-years-us92m-drug-money-scheme Wed, 19 Aug 2026 02:09:53 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Several top US Democratic lawmakers chided US President Donald Trump on Tuesday for easing sanctions recently on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who, they said, were “complicit in Beijing’s dismantling of Hong Kong’s autonomy”. “We write to express serious concern,” the four-page letter said. “It raises serious questions about the durability of US policy towards Hong Kong that we believe warrant a direct response from the administration.” On July 14, the US allowed its designation of Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3364488/us-democrats-rebuke-trump-easing-sanctions-china-hong-kong-officials https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3364488/us-democrats-rebuke-trump-easing-sanctions-china-hong-kong-officials Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:46:44 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier It is financially strapped, structurally flawed, infamously bureaucratic, reputationally damaged and riven with infighting. So why would anyone want to take on the role of the next secretary general of the United Nations? “I really think there should be some sort of psychiatric test for wanting this position,” said Richard Gowan, global issues and institutions director at the International Crisis Group (ICG). “The stakes are exceptionally high, and there is a strong sense around the UN that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363269/race-un-top-job-enters-final-stage-choice-may-make-or-break-organisation https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363269/race-un-top-job-enters-final-stage-choice-may-make-or-break-organisation Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:00:07 +0000 Mark Magnier,Josephine Ma Mark Magnier,Josephine Ma US President Donald Trump told the White House press corps at its annual gala dinner on Friday that “the show must go on,” three months after an earlier attempt was interrupted by an assassination attempt. This time the mood was significantly different. Security was stepped up, far fewer journalists were there, the war against Iran that the mercurial president started with Israel continues and his attacks on the media have become more pronounced. In a speech that lasted almost an hour, Trump... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3361824/show-must-go-trump-tells-scaled-back-press-gala-3-months-after-assassination-attempt https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3361824/show-must-go-trump-tells-scaled-back-press-gala-3-months-after-assassination-attempt Sat, 25 Jul 2026 04:14:16 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Two Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to allegedly shipping more than 500 turtles to Hong Kong in violation of American wildlife law, the US Department of Justice said on Thursday. Kin Keung Ho pleaded guilty on Thursday while Lihua Owen Ma pleaded guilty to a similar charge on July 1. Both are residents of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City. “During the plea hearing, the government proffered that Ho shipped approximately 99 packages containing 578 turtles,” the agency said.... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361661/chinese-nationals-plead-guilty-illegally-shipping-turtles-us-hong-kong https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361661/chinese-nationals-plead-guilty-illegally-shipping-turtles-us-hong-kong Fri, 24 Jul 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Mark Magnier,Lucy Quaggin Mark Magnier,Lucy Quaggin The White House threw a US-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal into question on Thursday, a day after it was signed, emphasising that it depended on the oil-rich Gulf country recognising Israel under a 2020 diplomatic initiative. “The Civil Nuclear Deal … will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” US President Donald Trump wrote on social media, adding that the deal would not include enrichment and involve only non-military use of... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361652/trump-throws-newly-signed-saudi-nuclear-deal-doubt-israel-recognition-demand https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361652/trump-throws-newly-signed-saudi-nuclear-deal-doubt-israel-recognition-demand Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:01:11 +0000 Nayan Seth,Mark Magnier Nayan Seth,Mark Magnier The United States imposed late on Thursday a fresh wave of tariffs against 60 economies, including China, Japan, South Korea, India and European Union member states, hours before a temporary 10 per cent blanket levy was due to expire. The tariffs, ranging from 10 to 12.5 per cent, are the outcome of a Section 301 investigation into forced labour, with Washington arguing that existing measures have failed to keep goods produced with forced labour out of supply chains. “Today’s action will begin... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361650/us-slaps-fresh-tariffs-china-50-plus-countries-latest-wave https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361650/us-slaps-fresh-tariffs-china-50-plus-countries-latest-wave Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:43:49 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier At Zion Foodtrucks in the US state of Colorado, American-made steel and aluminium are combined with globally sourced stoves, refrigerators, vents and titanium piping to transform everyday vehicles into mobile restaurants. But instead of benefiting from Donald Trump’s push to revive US manufacturing, the company says it has been squeezed by higher costs and tougher competition. Since taking office, the US president’s import taxes on steel and aluminium have hit 50 per cent tied to his “beautiful”... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3361607/trumps-manufacturing-push-meets-reality-costs-rise-and-investment-stalls https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3361607/trumps-manufacturing-push-meets-reality-costs-rise-and-investment-stalls Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:00:08 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Lawmakers called out China’s growing footprint at the United Nations on Wednesday as a vehicle for espionage even as a Congressional hearing over its funding descended into a heated partisan battle over the Iran war started by US President Donald Trump. “The Chinese peacekeeping department is concentrated in strategically sensitive regions, including areas along Belt and Road [Initiative] corridors, near ports, mineral resources, and existing or potential basing locations,” Sheri Biggs, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361511/us-lawmakers-accuse-china-using-un-peacekeeping-forces-spy-countries https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361511/us-lawmakers-accuse-china-using-un-peacekeeping-forces-spy-countries Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:03:22 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier In Iran war news with major US political implications, two US soldiers were killed and several wounded by an Iranian drone, the Pentagon announced on Saturday. The tragedy, the first US combat deaths in months, came as US President Donald Trump has tried to downplay or distract attention from the hugely unpopular war that he started in late February, as his polling numbers tank four months in advance of a hugely consequential midterm election. “Two US service members in Jordan were killed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361068/2-us-troops-dead-1-missing-after-iran-attacks-base-jordan https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361068/2-us-troops-dead-1-missing-after-iran-attacks-base-jordan Sat, 18 Jul 2026 18:01:11 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier Asian-American groups on Friday slammed US President Donald Trump’s speech, delivered this week, as a dangerous threat to citizens of US minority communities that are already facing attacks and hostility during troubled and deeply partisan times, even as China hawks praised its message and tone. On Thursday during a prime-time address from the East Room of the White House, Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims that Beijing was interfering in US elections, citing his suspicion of what he termed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361023/asian-american-groups-fear-trumps-escalating-rhetoric-will-fuel-prejudice-racism-us https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361023/asian-american-groups-fear-trumps-escalating-rhetoric-will-fuel-prejudice-racism-us Fri, 17 Jul 2026 23:14:26 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado,Mark Magnier,Ng Kang-chung Teresa Elena Frontado,Mark Magnier,Ng Kang-chung The Hong Kong government on Friday welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to allow a national emergency declaration concerning the city to expire, although Washington said the executive order that ended the city’s preferential treatment remains in effect. The declaration, which underpinned Washington’s decision to end Hong Kong’s preferential treatment in areas including trade and export controls, expired this week after US President Donald Trump did not renew it for another year. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361011/hong-kong-welcomes-us-move-let-national-emergency-declaration-expire https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3361011/hong-kong-welcomes-us-move-let-national-emergency-declaration-expire Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:20:52 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier China is an existential threat to the United States, and Washington needs to slow Chinese momentum and accelerate US technological advances, or fall well behind the Asian giant, witnesses told lawmakers at a Congressional round table on Tuesday. Among the possible strategies needed to counter Beijing’s growing prowess, analysts said, included expanding the Silicon Shield – an attempt to remove China from semiconductor supply chains – to drone and other vital technologies; drastically reducing US... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3360588/us-must-act-quickly-counter-chinas-growing-tech-progress-lawmakers-told https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3360588/us-must-act-quickly-counter-chinas-growing-tech-progress-lawmakers-told Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:06:16 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The heads of a US Congressional committee and a commission focused on China have called on the Justice Department to fully investigate a break-in and reported vandalism at a California museum commemorating the Tiananmen Square crackdown. “The Justice Department and FBI should investigate vandalism at the [June 4th Memorial Museum] to protect the inalienable rights of the Chinese diaspora seeking freedom in the United States,” said a three-page letter delivered to the agency on Thursday. The note... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360047/us-lawmakers-urge-justice-agency-fully-investigate-tiananmen-display-break https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360047/us-lawmakers-urge-justice-agency-fully-investigate-tiananmen-display-break Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:16:27 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier In a closely watched outcome, Canada on Monday chose a major German defence contractor over its South Korean competitor to build a US multibillion-dollar fleet of submarines, as mid-tier nations increasingly work together in the face of a less reliable United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Ottawa chose Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ (TKMS) package over Hanwha Ocean Company’s. The move was expected to strengthen ties between Canada and Nato, which is holding a two-day summit... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359647/canada-picks-german-company-build-new-submarine-fleet-deal-worth-billions https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3359647/canada-picks-german-company-build-new-submarine-fleet-deal-worth-billions Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:37:53 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The Nato summit beginning on Tuesday in Turkey is expected to be low-key as European members track their progress towards increased defence spending goals and Beijing watches intently from afar. Low-key, that is, with one major caveat. Will the get-along US President Donald Trump show up, or the raging Trump who slammed the alliance, questioned its purpose and threatened repeatedly to take his military and head home? Early indications suggested it would be the raging one. “The United States... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359228/which-trump-will-show-nato-summit-odds-are-it-will-be-fuming-one https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359228/which-trump-will-show-nato-summit-odds-are-it-will-be-fuming-one Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:38:16 +0000 Mark Magnier,Dewey Sim Mark Magnier,Dewey Sim Beijing’s move this week to add 20 more Japanese entities to its export-control list is the latest chapter in a complex US-Japan-China geopolitical triangle. Over the past seven months, an angry China has punished Tokyo repeatedly. A miffed Japan is left feeling betrayed. And a war-distracted Washington has struggled to navigate between the two, adding further tension in a region already on tenterhooks, according to analysts and former US government officials. The gnawing unease was sparked in... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3359082/chinas-pressure-campaign-tests-trumps-commitment-japan https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3359082/chinas-pressure-campaign-tests-trumps-commitment-japan Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:03:54 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A US congressional hearing on Tuesday urged the United States to innovate faster, smarter and better to counter China’s growing technological muscle, even as several lawmakers slammed the US President Donald Trump administration for policies they said undercut US national interests. The testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce comes as the two economic giants increasingly and aggressively face off over standards, economic models and supply chains, despite last month’s summit... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3358957/us-must-innovate-faster-counter-chinas-tech-rise-lawmakers-told https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3358957/us-must-innovate-faster-counter-chinas-tech-rise-lawmakers-told Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:37:19 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier As the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump fades in the rear-view mirror, marked by anaemic deliverables, poor transparency and missed opportunities, analysts and former US officials point to another disappointment: the world’s most consequential relationship has become inordinately dependent on the two nations’ top leaders. Trump’s May China trip, the first by a US president in nearly a decade, produced vague and contradictory readouts, puffed up promises,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3358566/why-trump-xi-relationship-may-be-weakest-link-us-china-ties https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3358566/why-trump-xi-relationship-may-be-weakest-link-us-china-ties Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:36:14 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The United States has been asleep for decades as China undercut US economic strength by stealing ideas, technologies and, more recently, artificial intelligence advances, with the Chinese military first in line to benefit, according to testimony heard by a congressional committee on Thursday. The hearing by the House Select Committee on China, which focused on economic espionage and Chinese efforts to exert influence at state and local levels, was held amid mounting bilateral tension over export... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3358403/us-hearing-warns-chinese-economic-espionage-now-targets-ai https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3358403/us-hearing-warns-chinese-economic-espionage-now-targets-ai Thu, 25 Jun 2026 20:17:21 +0000